CEDAR FALLS — The possibility of an increase of only 4 percent for tuition and fees — the lowest since 2000 — is coming closer to fruition.

For students in the College of Veterinary Medicine, however, the next four years may bring significantly larger tuition increases.

At its meeting Thursday in Cedar Falls, the Board of Regents discussed a proposed four-year plan to partner with the Iowa Legislature.

The plan calls for the Legislature to commit an additional $40 million a year to higher education funding.

The board’s proposed base tuition and fees increase of about 4 percent each year over four years is based on the hope that the regent universities would receive this new state allocation, said Gary Steinke, Board of Regents deputy executive director.

The legislative plan, Partnership for Transformation and Excellence, combines the new funding the regents hope to receive from the Legislature and a minimal tuition increase to benefit students, he said.

“The transformational plan provides predictable tuition increases for students,” Steinke said.

“It also has the possibility to improve access to a college education.”

Iowa State is expected to receive $15.4 million of the $40 million. Board of Regents President John Forsyth said that Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa would all be able to request supplemental tuition and fees increases if full funding from the Legislature is not achieved.

These supplemental increases would be charged to students differentially based on differentiations such as their major or year in school.

Any supplemental tuition and fees would go into effect for classes starting in summer 2005.

Gregory Nichols, Board of Regents executive director, said the board’s final decision on the partnership plan would be made at its December meeting.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy said College of Veterinary Medicine students may be facing higher tuition increases, however, because the increased tuition revenue would aid the college in improving its standing among other veterinary medicine schools nationwide.

“Ultimately, the issue is what kind of veterinary medicine college we want to have at Iowa State,” Geoffroy said. “Our national ranking has slipped due to budget constraints — out of the 20 ranked schools, we are 17th, and I want to achieve the top 10 in the next five years.”

For Iowa residents in the college, there is a proposed 12 percent in-state tuition increase per year on top of the 4 percent charged to all students. For non-resident students, an 8 percent addition in school year 2006-07 and a 5 percent addition in 2008-09 is proposed.

Geoffroy said this proposal would bring Iowa State’s veterinary medicine tuition levels up to the range of comparable schools while still remaining competitive.

Government of the Student Body President Sophia Magill said she had spoken with John Thomson, College of Veterinary Medicine dean, about the tuition increases, and he cautiously supported the plan.

“Concerns about the plan do exist,” she said.

“With this, students will have a larger debt load when they graduate. We need to critically think about this matter. By putting our trust in this proposal, I hope we can see a return in educational investment.”

Thomson said the income from the additional tuition increases would go toward improving the veterinary medicine facilities and the academic programs, research and services.